Search for deconfinement in NA49 at the CERN SPS

Experiment NA49 at the CERN SPS uses a large acceptance detector for a systematic study of particle yields and correlations in nucleus-nucleus, nucleon-nucleus and nucleon-nucleon collisions. Preliminary results for Pb+Pb collisions at 40, 80 and 158 A⋅GeV beam energy shown and compared to measurements at lower and higher energies.     

Divergence-free WKB theory

We present a divergence-free WKB theory, which is a new semiclassical theory modified by nonperturbative quantum corrections. Conventionally, the WKB theory is constructed upon a trajectory that obeys the bare classical dynamics expressed by a quadratic equation in momentum space. Contrary to this, the divergence-free WKB theory is based on a higher-order algebraic equation in momentum space, which represents a dressed classical dynamics. More precisely, this higher-order algebraic equation is obtained by including quantum corrections to the quadratic equation, which is the bare classical limit. An additional solution of the higher-order algebraic equation enables us to construct a uniformly converging perturbative expansion of the wavefunction. Namely, our theory removes the notorious divergence of wavefunction at a turning point from the WKB theory. Moreover, our theory is able to produce wavefunctions and eigenenergies more accurate than those given by the traditional WKB method. In addition, the divergence-free WKB theory that is based on the cubic equation allows us to construct a uniformly valid wavefunction for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). A recent short letter [T. Hyouguchi, S. Adachi, M. Ueda, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 (2002) 170404] is the opening of the divergence-free WKB theory. This paper presents full formalism of this theory and its several applications concerning wavefunction and eigenenergy to show that our theory is a natural extension of the traditional WKB theory that incorporates nonperturbative quantum corrections.     

Solid phase extraction for analysis of biogenic carbonates by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS): an investigation of rare earth element signatures in otolith microchemistry

Uptake of trace elements into fish otoliths is governed by several factors such as life histories and environment in addition to stock and species differences. In an attempt to elucidate the elemental signatures of rare earth elements (REEs) in otoliths, a solid phase extraction (SPE) protocol was used in combination with electrothermal vaporization (ETV) as a sample introduction procedure for the determinations by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Effects of various parameters, such as carrier gas flow rate, atomization temperature and chemical modification, were examined for optimization of the conditions by ETV-ICP-MS. Atomization was achieved at 2800 °C. Lower temperatures (i.e. 2600 °C) resulted in severe memory problems due to incomplete atomization. Palladium was used as a chemical modifier. It was found that an increase in Pd concentration up to 0.5 μg in the injection volume (70 μl) led up to four-fold enhancement in the integrated signals. This phenomenon is attributed to the carrier effect of Pd rather than the stabilization since no significant losses were observed for high temperature drying around 700 °C even in the absence of Pd. Preconcentration was performed on-line at pH 5 by using a mini-column of Toyopearl AF-Chelate 650M chelating resin, which also eliminated the calcium matrix of otolith solutions. After preconcentration of 6.4 ml of solution, the concentrate was collected in 0.65 ml of 0.5% (v/v) HNO₃ in autosampler cups, and then analyzed by ETV-ICP-MS. The method was validated with the analysis of a fish otolith certified reference material (CRM) of emperor snapper, and then applied to samples. Results obtained from otoliths of fish captured in the same habitat indicated that otolith rare earth element concentrations are more dependent on environmental conditions of the habitat than on species differences.     

Application of Pulsed Traveling Hydrogen Arcs for Metal Oxide Reduction

A plasma reactor that has a transient traveling arc has been used to study hydrogen in relation to in-flight reduction of metal oxide particles. Experiments were done to determine the nature of the arc and its interaction with the reactor gas. The lifetime of the excited atomic hydrogen was measured and it was found to be more than 4 ms after the arc had ceased. Powders and tablets of oxides were exposed to the pulsed-arc treated hydrogen and found to react much more rapidly and intensely than when exposed to hot molecular hydrogen. The results suggest that atomic hydrogen will exist throughout the volume of such a reactor for a period that is sufficient to reduce particles of FeO, Cr₂O₃, and TiO₂.     

激光溅射Ni等离子体与气相CH3OH团簇的反应

用激光溅射 分子束技术研究了气相中Ni的等离子体与甲醇分子团簇的反应 .观察到Ni+ (CH3 OH) n、NiO+ (CH3 OH) n、H+ (CH3 OH) n、H3 O+ (CH3 OH) n 四个种类的团簇正离子和CH3 O-(CH3 OH) n(n≤ 2 5 )一种团簇负离子 .详细考察了激光烧蚀等离子体作用于脉冲分子束的不同位置时 ,对团簇产物种类和团簇尺寸大小的影响 .发现NiO+ (CH3 OH) n 是由Ni+ (CH3 OH) n 团簇内的脱甲烷反应生成的 ,而H+ (CH3 OH) n、H3 O+ (CH3 OH) n主要是激光等离子体中的电子与甲醇团簇碰撞电离产生的     

某些类氖离子和类镍离子等离子体状态对应关系的研究

利用一维拉格朗日流体动力学程序Med103详细研究了产生类镍Ag,Cd,In,Sn, Sb离子和类氖Fe,Co,Ni,Cu,Zn离子的等离子体状态.通过对电子温度、离子丰度、离子数密度等状态参量的分析比较，得到了这两类等离子体状态之间的对应关系.即类镍银的等离子体状态与类氖铁 的相近，类镍镉的与类氖钴的相近，依次类推.利用这一对应关系可以方便地由类氖机理x射线激光的等离子体状态来对相应元素的类镍x射线激光的等离子体状态进行判断. 关键词： 类氖 类镍 等离子体状态 x射线激光     

Experimental evidence for anisotropic response of a driven vortex lattice

We present kinetic inductance measurements in current driven Josephson junction arrays. Measurements performed with circular coils indicate that this technique is very sensitive to the vortex mobility. Results obtained with anisotropic detection coils provide experimental evidence for the anisotropic response of a driven vortex lattice. Anisotropic behavior is obtained when rising the temperature or the mean vortex velocity as indicated by the loss of the superconducting shielding capability, first in the direction of vortex motion and then in the perpendicular direction.     

Scale-free behavior of the Internet global performance

Measurements and data analysis have proved very effective in the study of the Internet's physical fabric and have shown heterogeneities and statistical fluctuations extending over several orders of magnitude. Here we focus on the relationship between the Round-Trip-Time (RTT) and the geographical distance. We define dimensionless variables that contain information on the quality of Internet connections finding that their probability distributions are characterized by a slow power-law decay signalling the presence of scale-free features. These results point out the extreme heterogeneity of Internet delay since the transmission speed between different points of the network exhibits very large fluctuations. The associated scaling exponents appear to have fairly stable values in different data sets and thus define an invariant characteristic of the Internet that might be used in the future as a benchmark of the overall state of “health” of the Internet. Received 25 January 2003 Published online 7 May 2003     

Charge density fluctuation of low frequency in a dusty plasma

The charge density fluctuation of low frequency in a dusty plasma, which is derived from the longitudinal dielectric permittivity of the dusty plasma, has been studied by kinetic theory. The results show that theP value, which describes the relative charge density on the dust in the plasma, and the charging frequency of a dust particle Ω _c , which describes the ratio of charge changing of the dust particles, determine the character of the charge density fluctuation of low frequency. For a dusty plasma ofP≪1, when the charging frequency Ω _c , is much smaller than the dusty plasma frequency ω_d, there is a strong charge density fluctuation which is of character of dust acoustic eigenwave. For a dusty plasma ofP≫1, when the frequency Ω _c , is much larger than ω _d there are weaker fluctuations with a wide spectrum. The results have been applied to the ionosphere and the range of radius and density of dust particles is found, where a strong charge density fluctuation of low frequency should exist.     

Memory effects in gas chromatographic detection with a microwave-induced plasma

Capillary gas chromatography coupled to microwave-inducedplasma detection furnishes sensitivity adequate for trace analysis when the signal is monitored at a carbon emission line. Work performed with one of these systems at high electronic gain for the carbon signal has revealed solvent band widths in excess of four minutes; these impeded quantification of peaks eluting after the solvent. This report discusses two phenomena which could be related to the unexpected intensity of this solvent response: photomultiplier tube saturation and carbon deposits in the quartz plasma discharge tube.